Maryland Zoo: Renovation Event Overview

I had the great pleasure of attending an evening private viewing of the new 20 million dollar renovation of the savannah portion of the Maryland Zoo's African Journey area.  The event was hosted for the staff and volunteers of the zoo.  The formal opening had occurred earlier in the day and featured guests like the Lt Governor of the state and the mayor of Baltimore. 

The renovation expanded and upgraded three habitats: the African Lions, the Reticulated Giraffe and the African Elephants.  To celebrate, the zoo provided us with beverages and a rather sumptuous picnic buffet, but the highlight was exploring the new spaces with all of the wonderful design elements that enhance both the ability to see the animals, and the animals own wellbeing and care.  It truly is an impressive transformation.

 The event started at the existing Giraffe feeding station, but the feeding was of the human variety.

An example of the wonderful new signage.  This one commemorating the renovation itself.  I hope that this is the impetus for an upgrading to all of the zoo's informational placards.  What is there is very nice, but these are in a different league.

The Oasis Cafe was transformed into a Buffet with BBQ (Chicken and Pork), Hamburgers, Kabobs, Coleslaw, Baked Beans, Macaroni Salad, Cornbread.  A separate desserts table offered cookies and an array of festively decorated cupcakes.  The invite mentioned the presence of "munchie stations"--I can't imagine what a meal would entail!  The zoo treats the volunteers very well, indeed.